The final quest "Palace Intrigue" concludes the storyline with Judy Alvarez. This quest can have multiple endings, but only one of them is the most appropriate. 

Planning to pursue a romantic relationship with Braindance technician? Then make sure to keep Maiko alive. In order to achieve this outcome, you need to make a considerable effort. In this guide, we will explain what you need to do to keep Maiko from dying in the quest "Palace Intrigue." Let's go!

How to Activate the Mission "Palace Intrigue"

This quest will appear in your menu immediately after completing the previous mission with Judy. Go to the location indicated on the map, and Judy Alvarez will appear with her teammates, the "Clouds" dolls (approach the railings). 

After that, you can start a conversation with the girl. At some point, you will need to take the elevator to the maintenance level. The rest of the team will go to perform their part of the mission.  

Penthouse Walkthrough

Be prepared that as soon as you reach the technical maintenance floor, you will have to kill several guards. We recommend using "quickhacks" as they are one of the best tools for such situations. If you can't use them, equip a suppressor on your pistol. 

Have you killed them all? Great, give Judy some time to hack the security panel. Continue on your own path. Along the way, eliminate all the enemies - this should not be a problem as there will be few of them. 

Jump onto the penthouse balcony or sneak through the fence to avoid direct confrontations with enemies. 

You should see huge double doors behind which Maiko and Hiyori Sato, along with their entourage, are located. Note that everyone you see there is in a Braindance, so we have the opportunity to communicate with them. It doesn't matter how you respond in this dialogue. 

Dialogue with Maiko and her people: What to choose?

So, we have reached the "Tiger Claws" stage, where you will have a conversation with Maiko and her people. While the mafia is still asleep, Maiko will tell you about her ambitious plans to take Hiyori Sato's place. 

Judy is not pleased with this outcome (choose "We didn't agree to that"), but killing Maiko is also not necessary. To achieve a peaceful outcome, follow these actions: 

1. During the dialogue with the "Tiger Claws," make it clear that you will not support Maiko's plan.
   - Maiko, it seems you've gotten carried away.
   - Clouds must become independent. 

   

2. Pacify all of Hiyori Sato's guards. 

   

3. When talking to Maiko, choose the answer "What?" 

   

4. The next conversation should be uncertain from your side.

How to defeat the bosses and complete the quest "Palace Intrigue"

Be prepared that the fight with the Tiger Claws will be very challenging, especially if you are playing on a high difficulty level. Use the katana on the table to quickly deal with all the enemies. 

Don't expect any help from Maiko, she will shrink in fear and sit until the battle is over. If you have any tricks up your sleeve, it's time to use them because the battle will be tough. 

After completing the quest, the most peaceful path is when Judy is extremely happy and kisses you. Any other options will not satisfy Alvarez, especially if you accept money from Maiko.

In fact, "Palace Intrigue" is the most challenging mission in Cyberpunk 2077 with the most unexpected outcome. To finish the quest peacefully, you need to make a significant effort. It's quite difficult to maintain neutrality during negotiations to avoid provoking Maiko into attacking. But as everyone knows, the more challenging the RPG, the more interesting it becomes. Good luck with your playthrough!